Not entirely true. Ie, life requires the labor of those on the frontlines fighting a war.
I'd say, nothing which requires what you are not willing to give to others can be considered a right. I am willing to fight for my neighbors, and so ot is my right that they fight for me too.
You reminded me of people that refuse to gather into churches and congregations at all, who go out in the woods as if that is a replacement for fellowship with fellow believers in Christ. I'm of the mindset that Christ gave us church and expects us to participate.
I know that I could walk in to my church, and they would definitely not turn me away. Not because of who I am, but because that is not the policy of the church. We can't turn anyone away, even the vilest of sinners who we have excommunicated.
That said, the leaders asked, gently, and not by commandment, please don't come if you aren't wearing a mask. They have made it possible for everyone to enjoy the services, so I literally have no reason to go to church.
I'm a somewhat new gun buyer, and I know that you sound like a glowfag and whatnot, but here is my advice:
- READ YOUR DAMN GUN LAWS. Yes, the 2A trumps all, but I don't want to see some Fudd (that's you and I) go to jail for being stupid. More often than not, the laws are annoying, but don't prevent you from owning and carrying a gun.
- You "need" any gun. The difference between having no gun and having any gun is huge. The different between having the right gun or a good gun and a bad or wrong gun is not as big.
- No matter what you buy, you need ammo. Period. You need a lot of it, both for when you need a gun and to practice with it.
- You need to practice. Learn how to safely handle the gun. Learn the 4 rules. Practice them. No, I mean, physically pick up your gun (unloaded), and remind yourself of the 4 rules, and practice moving the gun around without flagging anyone, keeping your booger hook of the boom switch, etc... Do it hundreds of times. Muscle memory is key here. Can you move your gun across a room without flagging people? Congratulations, you almost look like a gun pro. Now go to the range and learn to shoot the gun. Get used to it. Eventually, it will become natural. Learn how to shoot quickly and accurately. Train your eyes and hands and body to do what needs to be done to squeeze off accurate rounds. Because your mind will not be part of the equation when you get into your first gunfight!
- YOU NEED TO CARRY YOUR GUN WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES. Your gun is not just to protect you, but to protect OTHERS in times of danger. You need to be mentally prepared to use that gun, calmly and rationally, when it is needed. My rule is this: I don't reach for my gun unless I plan on firing it, and I won't fire it unless I'd rather go to prison for ten years than not fire it. See? Once I've decided, "Prison is preferable to letting that man live" THEN I reach for the gun, pull it out, and start shooting until the threat is completely eliminated. I do NOT walk around with a gun in my hand, EVER. I do not touch my gun, EVER, unless I am at the range or at home doing dryfire drills, or someone I trust wants a better look at it.
Now, which gun to get?
- Handguns are good because you can carry them. START HERE. Carry it ALWAYS. Get a good holster. You need to talk with the gun store as it is like getting a new suit. It needs to fit YOU. And every gun is different. One of them will feel good in your hand, be comfortable to carry, and fit your wallet. REMEMBER: Having no gun is bad, having even bad gun is good.
- Blot-action rifles like .308 or .30-06 are for hunting deer and elk. They can also engage the enemy at hundreds of yards, provided you learn how to use them. It is a chore to get them sighted in, get the right ammo, etc... but it is rewarding and calming work to figure things out.
- Semi-auto rifles like the AR-15 are for engaging lots of bad guys at the ~50-100 yard range. In other words, infantry combat. While you could hunt with them, it's generally designed for hunting mammals roughly about 4-7 feet tall and weighing 100-500 pounds. The chance of you EVER having to use an AR-15 in a real-life scenario? Unless you are a marine, probably close to 0.
- Shotguns aren't very useful in combat (aside from clearing hallways or breaching doors), but you can use them to hunt ducks and birds and rabbits. They are also very intimidating for some reason. They are also a lot of fun. Get a 12-gauge for the man, 20-gauge for the woman and kids. These things KICK LIKE A MULE. Skeet shooting is one of my favorite things of all time, and trains all sorts of instincts that will help you shoot bad guys running and gunning at you.
Find a good gun store. The first words out of your mouth is, "I'm a complete newbie when it come to guns." Let the sales guy take his time with you, and be attentive and sincere. Ask a lot of stupid questions, and be prepared for nervous laughs as you start to learn the lingo. Be ready to drop $1k maybe $2k the first time you go in. You can probably get out with a good handgun and ammo and a holster for probably less than that, but it's good to be ready for the cost.
Reading the replies, it's a farmers protest years ago.